journey southward, even though it was obvious
that certain members could only accompany their leader for a mere
fraction of the great white way.

During the four months' winter darkness each one occupied himself with
his special subject, and Dr. Wilson not only proved himself to be an
efficient chief of our scientific staff, but a sound friend and companion
to the executive members, Bowers, Oates, Meares, and myself. Uncle Bill
was our Solomon and it was to him that we all went for sympathy and
practical advice. It was to him the staff went, that is to say, the
officers and scientists, for the smoothing over of those little
difficulties, roughnesses, and unevennesses that were bound to arrive
from time to time during the course of winter. The sailors came more to
Bowers, Oates, and myself, for, in their conservative naval way, they
could never quite get over the fact that the hut was not a ship and that
there were other members who, although they had never come under any sort
of naval or military discipline, were men of greater age and experience
in fending for themselves than youngsters like Bowers and myself. Still,
things went beautifully, and so they should have, when one considers the
great care our leader had exercised in the selection of his personnel.

If Scott had had his choice again and if he had been allowed to select
from the whole world, one can say without hesitation he would have chosen
Wilson to captain our splendid scientific team and to be his human book
of reference. Wilson was more nearly Scott's own age than the other
important members of this enterprise, and Wilson, it must be remembered,
had pulled shoulder to shoulder with Scott on his southern sledge journey
in 1902-3.

Before taking a peep at the individuals forming the rest of our party and
at their delicate scientific work at the base station, I must not forget
to mention that Scott, with his indomitable energy, was away again four
days after his return to Cape Evans with Bowers, Crean, and five fresh
men to Hut Point for the dual purpose of replenishing that station with
fuel, lighting material, etc., and getting those who should be at Cape
Evans for certain work and duty back there. Scott returned by the way we
had come, i.e. the Glacier Tongue-Castle Rock route, and then left the
dog-boy with Meares to take charge of these animals, Lashly and Keohane
to nurse and exercise the two ponies, and Nelson and Forde to get into
the way of winte